News

A new licensing framework for customs clearing agents has been agreed in Zambia, marking the end of phase one of a project aimed at making trade simpler, faster and more cost-effective.

A delegation of Moroccan officials and business representatives visited France in January to learn about the automated traffic management technologies used in the port of Marseille Fos. The visit was jointly organised by the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, which is currently leading a project to digitise port operations at the Morocco’s ports, and the National Port Agency of Morocco.

Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation completes first project aimed at making trade simpler, faster and more cost-effective.

José Raúl Perales, Deputy Director at the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation explains the trends he sees in the region’s trade facilitation landscape.

International development to benefit from leading air transport technology

Customs Clearing Agents in Malawi are to be offered accredited training as part of a new trade facilitation project being launched today by the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation. The project will introduce a new licensing framework for clearing agents, complete with a training course and examination to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills they need to facilitate trade efficiently and in line with Customs regulations in Malawi.

Brazil’s National Standards Agency, INMETRO, has officially joined the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme of Brazilian Customs, Receita Federal. The agreement between the two agencies means companies who become AEO-certified ‘trusted traders’ with Receita will also be able to benefit from simpler and faster interactions with INMETRO.

Daniel Dobos, particle physicist and co-founder of THE Port at CERN, explains how hackathons could create new tech to tackle trade barriers while creating the trust between governments and business essential to achieve real change.

A delegation of Moroccan officials from the National Office for Food Safety (l’Office Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire des produits Alimentaires – ONSSA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests (Ministère de l’agriculture, de la pêche maritime, du développement rurale et des eaux et forêts) travelled to the Netherlands as part of a project to digitise trade documents for Morocco’s agri-food sector

How can trade facilitation reforms help to create a more conducive environment for women traders in Africa? Mucha Mlingo, President of OWIT Nairobi, explains.

The Colombian National Food and Drug Surveillance Institute (Invima), is today launching a new risk management system to strengthen its inspection, surveillance and control of medicines and medical devices that enter the country through ports, airports and border crossings.

The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation and the Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade) have signed a partnership agreement, committing to work together towards making trade with Kenya simpler, faster and more cost-effective.

In our interactive session at the Global Review of Aid for Trade, we will bring together donors, beneficiaries and businesses to discuss how a multi-stakeholder approach to trade facilitation reform can be fostered in LDCs.

How can digitising the phytosanitary certification process help to enhance food security? Craig Fedchock, Advisor at the International Plant Protection Secretariat, explains.

A delegation of Zambian government officials and business leaders is in the United States this week as part of a project to make trade with Zambia simpler, faster and more cost effective. The project, which is being led by the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation and the Zambia Revenue Authority, is introducing new training and licensing procedures for customs clearing agents in Zambia. The 14-strong delegation is spending one week talking to government and business representatives about the role of customs clearing agents in the U.S.